Wiggins misses out on maiden Commonwealth gold

Sir Bradley Wiggins' return to track cycling did not go according to plan as he and Team England had to settle for the silver medal in the men's 4,000m team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games.

World champions Australia put on a dominant display from start to finish to take the gold medal at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome as Wiggins missed out on securing a first gold at the event.

Wiggins was making his return to track cycling for the first time in six years having won the Tour de France in 2012 and the gold medal at the London Olympics.

"It's been a great break from the road and a good start for Rio [2016 Olympics]," Wiggins told the BBC. "Four weeks ago we sat in a room for the first time in six years and wondered how far we can go."

Wiggins, who was competing in his fourth Commonwealth Games, wins silver for the fourth time as he and his fellow team-mates Steven Burke, Ed Clancy and Andy Tennant could not keep up with the pace set by the Australian team of Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Alex Edmondson and Glenn P O'Shea - who set a new Games record with a time of three minutes and 54.851 seconds, with England finishing outside of four minutes.

England could not capitalise on the one-man advantage they had when Davison dropped out for Australia just over the halfway mark. Instead, Australia went quicker to increase the gap as leader Bobridge produced a brilliant ride to guide his team to victory.

"We've had limited preparations for this and hopefully will look back in two years with gold medals around our necks thinking this was the starting point in Glasgow," Wiggins added.

"I've said all along the track was always what I was going to go back to. I need to put some muscle on and get stronger. It's going to be two years of graft and we can't underestimate how much work we have ahead to get in the right place for Rio."

In the men's team sprint finals, the English trio of Jason Kenny, Kian Emadi and Philip Hines won the silver medal as New Zealand claimed gold with a new Commonwealth record of 43.181 seconds

In the women's 500m time trial, Anna Meares won her seventh Commonwealth medal as she took gold ahead of fellow Australian Stephanie Morton, with England's Jess Varnish winning bronze.